Note: if you experience difficulty downloading any papers from a journal site when off-campus, you will need to install Virtual Private Network (VPN). This software will make your computer appear to the distant site to be on-campus and allow you to download under UMBC's licensing agreement.
NOTE: lecture notes uploaded on May 9th are labeled with an asterisk
| Tu 1/29: | Course introduction. Writing diagnostic. [Lecture 1] |
| Th 1/31: |
Central dogma in eukaryotes; an overview of information transfer; differences from prokaryotes [Lecture 2] Note: I've decided to try providing presentations before lecture as a test. If it looks like people have started to "take the class on the web"--use these presentations instead of the class--of if there is an indication that they are degrading the experience in the classroom I'll reassess this decision. Look for the next presentation no later than Tuesday morning. |
| Tu 2/5: | Enzymology of transcription in eukaryotes [Lecture 3] |
| Th 2/7: | The role of chromatin in regulating transcription; description of writing project [Lecture 4] |
| Tu 2/12: | More on chromatin modification; the “histone code” model [Lecture 5] |
| Th 2/14: | Discussion: recognition of the histone code; Topics due for writing project [Discussion Questions 1] |
| Tu 2/19: | Discussion: activation by nucleosome removal [Discussion Questions 2] |
| Th 2/21: | Transcription elongation and the role of chromatin modification [Lecture 6: 4 to the page] [Lecture 6--6 to the page] |
| Tu 2/26: | Discussion: histone modification during transcription elongation to suppress cryptic initiation [Discussion Questions 3] |
| Th 2/28: | Resources for identifying reference materials [11 AM-12 Noon in AOK Library room 249 with Biological Sciences Subject Librarian, Uta Hussong]; Review for Midterm I |
| Tu 3/4: | Midterm I (up to 2/26) |
| Th 3/6: | Enzymology of protein synthesis in eukaryotes [Lecture 7: 4 to the page] [Lecture 7: 6 to the page] [Eukaryotic initiation scheme PDF] |
| Tu 3/11: | Genetics of transatlonal initiation & the "closed loop model" [Lecture 8: 4 to the page] [Lecture 8: 6 to the page] |
| Th 3/13: | Alternative mechanisms of translation initiation [Lecture 9: 4 to the page] [Lecture 9: 6 to the page] |
| Tu 3/18: | Spring Break |
| Th 3/20: | Spring Break |
| Tu 3/25: | Discussion: internal initiation without initiation factors or initiator tRNA [Discussion Questions 4] |
| Th 3/27: | Circularization of mRNAs; maternal mRNAs [Lecture 10: 4 to the page] [Lecture 10: 6 to the page] |
| Tu 4/1: | Discussion: repression by blocking mRNA circularization [Discussion Questions 5] [Annotated bibliography due for writing project] |
| Th 4/3: | ["Talk amongst yourselves..."--Mike Meyers] |
| Tu 4/8: | Review for midterm |
| Th 4/10: | Midterm II (up to 4/8) |
| Tu 4/15: | mRNA quality control; forms of mRNA degradation [Lecture 11: 4 to the page] [Lecture 11: 6 to the page] |
| Th 4/17: | Discussion: non-stop and no-go degradation systems [Discussion Questions 6] |
| Tu 4/22: | RNA interference [Lecture 12: 4 to the page] [Lecture 12: 6 to the page] |
| Th 4/24: | Discussion: discovery of RNA interference [Discussion Questions 7] [Supplementary Fig. 4--download for class!] |
| Tu 4/29: | First draft of writing project due; peer reviewing writing project |
| Th 5/1: | miRNAs and control of cellular functions [Lecture 13:1 to the page] [Updated Lecture 13: 4 to the page] [Updated Lecture 13: 6 to the page] |
| Tu 5/6: | Discussion: mechanism of RNA degradation in response to micro RNAs [Discussion Questions 8] |
| Th 5/8: | Discussion: miRNA-directed translational repression [Discussion Questions 9] |
| Tu 5/13: | Review for final [Final writing project due] |
| Tu 5/20: | Final Examination on material from Th 3/29 (BS 004 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM) |
